In what can be described as a tough decision over the soul of the major opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, the suspended National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and other recalcitrant members.
Others expelled members include: Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Mohammed Abdulrahman, Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, George Turner, Abraham Amali and Dan Orbi
The party also dissolved the executives of the party in Rivers, Abia, Imo, Plateau and Enugu States.
The PDP announced their expulsion on Saturday during its ongoing National Convention in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Former National Vice Chairman of the party (South), Chief Olabode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of Wike and others at the convention
The Chairman of the PDP in Bauchi, Hon Samaila Burga, seconded the motion for the expulsion.
It is instructive to note that the PDP faction loyal to Wike had initiated moves to stop the convention through the Federal High Court in Abuja but the PDP secured a verdict from Oyo State High Court which directed the party to hold its convention in Ibadan as scheduled.
A few days to the convention, Mao Ohabunwa, chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Wike-led faction, said anyone going to Ibadan for the purpose of convention would just be going there to relax because the exercise would not be recognised by law.
Mocking the other faction, Ohabunwa said those interested in going to Ibadan should relax and have fun, describing the exercise as a “jamboree.”
According to him, Anyanwu had issued a circular, notifying members about the postponement of the convention.
He said, ”We have met as the national working committee of PDP and reviewed our activities. We have agreed to obey all the court decisions on the Ibadan convention. So, we are not part of the exercise.
”Ibadan is a public place. People can go for anything but not for convention. Anyone going there in the name of convention should consider it a jamboree.
”We won’t tolerate flagrant abuse of the constitution by some individuals in the name of a convention.”
The faction’s acting national chairman, Abdulrahman Muhammad, also called on the delegates to stay away from the convention and wait for the right time.
Muhammad promised to keep mobilizing members across the 36 states and the FCT for a strong and united PDP.
”We are concerned with moving PDP forward. Therefore, all delegates across the country should stay away from the Ibadan convention,” Muhammad said.
On his part, Wike had commended members of the party for defending PDP in their respective areas and insisted that his camp would always uphold the rule of law and would not succumb to intimidation.
Wike further pledged not to betray those who believe in the constitution of the party, saying that, ”I am happy with your concern about the party in your respective areas, I will continue to support you people, I won’t betray you people.”
